Overview

The Hall as it stands today was built in the late sixteenth century – with the remains of a 15th century Great Hall – and is reputed to be the oldest dated house built entirely of brick in Shropshire. A ‘date-stone’ of 1580 can clearly be seen on the front of the house from the Moat Lawn.

From the 14th century until 1926, the historic estate belonged to the Cressett family – Shropshire landowners and royalist courtiers – and their descendants. The Cressett direct line died out with the death of Elizabeth Cressett in 1792 after which the estate passed through various branches of the Pelham Cressett and Thursby Pelham family (which included two prime ministers).

The site of the Hall is ancient. It is recorded in the Domesday Book and in nearby fields there are the remains of a second century Roman settlement. The surrounding land is also the site of a deserted medieval village, traces of which remain as earthworks. A tiny Norman church, dedicated to St Michael, stands nearby and is maintained by the The Churches Conservation Trust.

Parts of the Hall date to 1380 and are the remains of an earlier manor which belonged to the de Upton family. In the thirteenth century, the de Uptons were Verderers of the Royal Forest of Morfe and Knights and suitors to Holgate Castle, and the last of their line married into the Cressett family in the 14th century.